Apparatus, and associated method, for requesting data retransmission in a packet radio communication system

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and an associated method, that reduces the occurrence of generation of redundant requests for retransmission of packet-formatted data, formatted at a physical layer and at a higher-logical layer, such as at an RLP layer. An estimate of an appropriate delay period is formed. The estimate is responsive to communication conditions in the communication system. When a data packet appears to have been inadequately delivered to the RLP logical layer, a DELAY_DETECTION_WINDOW timer is caused to time out the delay period estimated by the estimator. The request for retransmission, generated at the RLP layer, is permitted, upon expiration of the timer if the data packet has not yet been successfully delivered to the RLP layer and the transmitter has not given up the data packet delivery.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/285,899 filed Oct. 31, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,298,701 which ishereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a manner by which tocoordinate retransmission requests in a packet-based communicationsystem. The communication system utilizes more than onepacket-formatting layer, each of which uses a packet retransmissionscheme, such as a packet radio communication system that utilizes an RLP(radio link protocol) layer positioned upon a lower-layer that utilizesH-ARQ (hybrid automatic request) packet retransmissions. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and anassociated method, by which selectively to delay RLP, or other,retransmission requests at that layer to provide more time at thelower-layer for the lower-layer retransmission scheme to be carried out.Prior to sending the higher logical-layer retransmission request, adelay time is required to elapse. If, upon timing-out of the delay time,data is not adequately received, the RLP, or other higher logical-layer,retransmission request is sent. And, the delay time is a selectablevalue, selected responsive to indicia associated with communications inthe communication system.

Improved communication efficiency is provided as redundantretransmission requests, originated at different logical-layers definedin the communication system, to request retransmission of the same dataare less likely to be generated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A communication system is used to communicate data between two, or more,separate positions, or entities. In a minimal implementation, acommunication system is formed of a first communication station forminga sending station and a second communication station, forming areceiving station. The communication stations are interconnected by wayof a communication channel. Data to be communicated by the firstcommunication station is converted, if necessary, into a form to permitits communication upon the communication channel to the secondcommunication station. And, the second communication station operates todetect the data communicated thereto and to recover the informationalcontent thereof.

A wide variety of different types of communication systems have beendeveloped and are regularly utilized to effectuate communication of thedata between the communication stations. And, new types of communicationsystems, as well as improvements to existing communication systems, havebeen made possible as a result of advancements in communicationtechnologies.

A radio communication system is exemplary of a type of communicationsystem that has benefited from advancements in communicationtechnologies. In a radio communication system, the communication channelformed between the communication stations operable therein is definedupon a radio link. As a radio link is utilized upon which to define thecommunication channel, the need otherwise to utilize a wirelineconnection extending between the communication stations to definecommunication channels is obviated. Reduced infrastructure costs aretherefore generally associated with radio communication systems. And, aradio communication system can be implemented to form a mobilecommunication system.

A cellular communication system is exemplary of a radio communicationsystem that has been made possible due to advancements in communicationtechnologies. A cellular communication system provides for radiocommunications with mobile stations to permit the telephoniccommunication to be effectuated therefrom. A cellular communicationsystem is installed throughout a geographical area through the use ofspaced-apart base transceiver stations, each of which define a portionof the geographical area, referred to as a cell. When a mobile stationis within the cell defined by a base transceiver station, communicationsare generally effectuable with the base transceiver station that definesthe cell.

Communications are handed-off between successive base transceiverstations when the mobile station travels out of one cell and into othercells, defined by others of the base transceiver stations. Throughappropriate positioning of the base transceiver stations and permittingcommunication hand-offs to successive ones of the base transceiverstations, only relatively low-powered signals need to be generatedduring telephonic communications between the mobile station and the basetransceiver station. As a result, the same channels can be used atdifferent locations of the same cellular communication system.Relatively efficient usage of the frequency spectrum allocated to acellular communication system is thereby possible.

Cellular communication systems are constructed, generally, to operateaccording to an operational specification set forth by a standard body,such as the EIA/TIA. Successive generations of cellular communicationsystems, incorporating technological advancements, as available, havebeen defined by operational specifications. First generation andsecond-generation systems have achieved significant levels of usage, andinstallation of third-generation and successor-generation systems havebeen proposed.

Third-generation systems provide for multi-rate data communicationservices that utilize packet-formatted data. A so-called CDMA 2000standard is an exemplary third generation communication system, intendedto provide such multi-data rate communication services utilizingcommunication of packet-formatted data.

Structure, and functionality, defined in the proposed CDMA 2000 systemis defined in terms of logical layers. Other communication systems areanalogously defined in such terms. In a CDMA 2000 system, multipleformatting layers are set forth. And, in particular, an RLP (radio linkprotocol) layer is positioned above a physical layer. The RLP layerutilizes an RLP retransmission scheme while the physical layer utilizesan HARQ (hybrid-automatic request) retransmission scheme. Theretransmission schemes define retransmission protocols by which areceiving station selectively requests retransmission of a packet ofdata upon failure of successful delivery of the data packet to thereceiving station. Because retransmission schemes are provided forseparate layers, retransmission requests might be sent by both the RLPlayer as well as at the physical layer. Such redundancy ofretransmission requests are counterproductive to a goal of efficientradio spectrum usage.

A manner is needed by which to reduce the possibility that the multiplelayers of a receiving station might redundantly request retransmissionof a data packet.

It is in light of this background information related to communicationsin a packet radio communication system that the significant improvementsof the present invention have evolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus,and an associated method, by which to coordinate retransmission requestsin a packet-based communication system. The packet-based communicationsystem utilizes more than one packet-formatting layer, each layerutilizing a packet retransmission scheme, such as a packet radiocommunication system that utilizes an RLP (radio link protocol) layerpositioned upon a lower-level layer that utilizes HARQ.

Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner isprovided by which selectively to delay RLP, or other higher, logicallayer, retransmission requests, at that layer to provide more time atthe lower layer for the lower-layer retransmission scheme to be carriedout.

The higher logical-layer retransmission request is delayed by a delaytime. If, upon expiration of the delay time, data is not adequatelyreceived, the RLP, or other higher logical-layer, retransmission requestis sent.

As the possibility that redundant retransmission requests, generated atseparate logical layers, is reduced, improved communication efficiencyin the communication system is possible. That is to say, multipleretransmission requests, originated at different logical-layers definedin the communication system, that request retransmission of the samedata is reduced.

In one aspect of the present invention, an estimate is made of asuggested time delay of the delay time by which to delay theretransmission request by the higher logical-layer. The estimate isformed responsive to indicia associated with communication conditions inthe communication system. The indicia is formed, for instance, oftraffic load information indicative of ongoing traffic, i.e.,communications, in the communication system, HARQ information associatedwith active communications, QoS (quality of service) requirements ofactive, or anticipated, communications in the communication system,communication quality indicative of communication quality ofcommunication activity in the communication system, as well as othertypes of radio quality information.

The estimation is formed, in one implementation, at the network part ofthe radio communication system and communicated to the mobile stationwhereat the mobile station stores the estimation value. And, in anotherimplementation, the estimation is made at the network part of thecommunication system, communicated to the mobile station whereat themobile station selectively modifies, or substitutes, an alteredestimation value therefore.

In another aspect of the present invention, the estimation defines adelay period bounded by an upper value, a lower value, and a suggestedvalue. When data appears at an RLP layer, or other higher-logical-layer,to have been unsuccessfully delivered thereto, a delay period of a delaytime within the range of values defined by the delay period is requiredto expire prior to generation of the retransmission request.

In another aspect of the present invention, a receiving station, such asa mobile station, that receives packet-formatted data during acommunication session, includes a timer called DELAY_DETECTION_WINDOW(DDW) which is capable of timing-out a selected delay time. When theRLP, or other higher logical-layer, of the receiving station failsadequately to receive a data packet, the DDW timer is started. If thepacket is not adequately received at the receiving station by the timethat the timer times-out, the retransmission request is generated by theRLP, or other higher logical-layer. The delay is instituted to providean additional time period to permit a lower logical-layer, such as aphysical layer, HARQ retransmissions scheme, to effectuate theretransmission of the data packet.

In one implementation, a retransmission scheme is provided for acellular communication system constructed, generally, to be operablepursuant to a CDMA 2000 operational specification. The operationalspecification provides for high-speed, multi data rate communications.The data communications are, for instance, pursuant to a 1xEV-DV packetdata service scheme. The communication system is defined in terms oflogical layers that include, amongst others, a physical layer and an RLP(radio link protocol) layer positioned thereabove. The base transceiverstation includes estimator functionality thereof. The estimator forms anestimate of a suggested RLP layer retransmission delay period. The delayperiod defines a time period by which a retransmission request issuggested to be delayed at the RLP layer upon determination that a datapacket has not successfully been delivered thereto. Once the estimate isformed, an RLP Block of Bits (BLOB) containing an RLP-delay indicationis sent by the base station to the mobile station, or other receivingstation. And, once delivered to the receiving station, the valuescontained in the RLP-delay message are extracted and used to set thetime-out value of a timer formed thereat. Upon an indication that an RLPlayer packet is not successfully delivered to the RLP layer of themobile station, or other receiving station, a request for retransmissionof the packet is delayed until the DDW timer times-out. If, uponexpiration of the period timed by the timer, the RLP data packet is notsuccessfully delivered to the RLP layer of the mobile station, aretransmission request is generated. Note that the retransmissionrequest can be generated prior to the expiration of the DDW timer if themobile station determines that the base transceiver station has given upthe delivery of the missing RLP data packet.

Because the generation of the retransmission request is delayed for atime period corresponding to the suggested, or otherwise responsive to,the estimated time delay, the possibility that redundant retransmissionrequests, generated at separate logical layers of the receiving station,is reduced.

In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associatedmethod, is provided for a radio communication system. The radiocommunication system is operable to communicate packet-formatted databetween a first communication station and a second communicationstation. The packet-formatted data is formatted at a first logicallayer, utilizing a first-layer acknowledgment mechanism by which thesecond communication station selectably acknowledges whether the packetformatted data is adequately received thereat at the first logicallayer. And, the packet-formatted data is formatted at a second logicallayer, utilizing a second-layer acknowledgement mechanism by which thesecond communication station selectably acknowledges whether thepacket-formatted data is adequately received thereat at the secondlogical layer. Efficient usage of the radio capacity in the radiocommunication system is facilitated. An estimator is coupled to receiveindicia associated with communication characteristics of the firstlogical layer. The estimator estimates a selected second-layer delayperiod by which to delay generation, at the second communicationstation, of a second-layer resend request requesting resending of thepacket-formatted data.

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scopethereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings that are brieflysummarized below, the following detailed description of thepresently-preferred embodiments of the invention, and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication systemin which an embodiment of the present invention is operable.

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional representation of two logical layers ofportions of the communication system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a message sequence diagram listing the signalinggenerated during operation of an embodiment of the present inventionforming a portion of the communication system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method of operationof an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a communication system, shown generally at10, provides for the communication of data between spaced-apartcommunication stations, here a base transceiver station 12 and a mobilestation 14. Communication channels are defined upon radio links 16extending between the base transceiver station and the mobile station.Data that is communicated by a base transceiver station to the mobilestation is communicated upon forward-link channels defined upon theradio links. And, data communicated by the mobile station iscommunicated upon reverse-link channels defined upon the radio links.

In the exemplary implementation shown in the figure, the communicationsystem 10 forms a cellular communication system operable, generally,pursuant to a proposed, CDMA 2000 operational specification thatprovides for high-data rate communication services, such as 1xEV-DOcommunication services. In other implementations, other types of dataservices, such as 1XTREME and L3NQS data services proposed for the CDMA2000 operational specification are instead provided. And, in otherimplementations, the communication system 10 is representative ofcellular communication systems that provide data services pursuant toother operational specifications as well as other types of packet-basedcommunication systems. Accordingly, while the following detaileddescription shall describe operation of an embodiment of the presentinvention with respect to its implementation in a CDMA 2000 system thatprovides 1xEV-DV data communication services, the present invention isanalogously implementable in cellular, and other, communication systemsoperable pursuant to other communication schemes.

The base transceiver station 12 forms a portion of a radio accessnetwork, here also shown to include a radio network controller (RNC) 20,and a gateway (GWY) 22.

The gateway provides for a connection of the radio access network to acore network (CN) 24, such as a PSTN (public-switched, telephonicnetwork) or PDN (packet data network), e.g., a next-generation telephonesystem or the internet backbone.

Communications devices, such as computer servers 25, are connected tothe PDN. Data sourced at a computer server, connected to the corenetwork, is supplied to the mobile station 14 by the formation of acommunication path between the data source and the mobile station thatextends through the core network, the radio access network, and a radiolink 16 extending to the mobile station. Data sourced at a computerserver, or other data source, provide a communication service, such as adata broadcast, to the mobile station.

The data is formatted pursuant to packet formatting schemes, here atmultiple, logical layers defined in the system. Here, the logical layersinclude, amongst others, a physical layer and an RLP (radio linkprotocol) layer positioned, functionally, thereabove. Packet formattingis performed at both the physical layer and at the RLP layer. And, bothof the layers utilize a retransmission scheme in which packets of dataare retransmitted if the data packets are not successfully delivered tothe intended communication station. Here, for instance, data packetssent by the base transceiver station 12 to the mobile station 14 arepositively acknowledged by the mobile station to be received adequatelythereat. Otherwise, the data packet is resent by the base transceiverstation. Because of the multiple layers of formatting and correspondingmultiple layers of retransmissions that might be requested, redundantretransmission requests might well be generated. Through operation of anembodiment of the present invention, the generation of the redundantretransmission requests is less likely to occur.

Accordingly, in the exemplary implementation, the base transceiverstation includes apparatus 26 of an embodiment of the present invention.The apparatus 26 includes functional entities that are shown in blockform in the figure. The entities forming the apparatus 26 areimplementable in any desired manner such as, for example, by algorithmsexecutable at processing circuitry. The entities of the apparatus 26 areformed at the RLP layer of the base transceiver station. The RLP layeris formed of entities positioned above a physical layer. Portions of thebase transceiver station positioned above the segment 28 form parts ofhigher logical-layers of the base transceiver station. And, elements ofthe base transceiver station shown below (as shown) of the basetransceiver station form the physical layer thereof. Here, the physicallayer is shown to include the transceiver circuitry 32 of the basetransceiver station.

Analogously, the mobile station includes further apparatus 26 of anembodiment of the present invention. Again, the entities forming theapparatus 26 positioned at the mobile station are functionallyrepresented and can be implemented in any desired manner, such as byalgorithms executable by processing circuitry. The elements of theapparatus are formed at higher logical-layers of the mobile station,here also represented to be positioned above (as-shown), the linesegment 28, designated at 29. The physical layer of the mobile stationis formed of entities positioned beneath (as-shown) of the segment 28,designated at 31. Here, the physical layer includes transceivercircuitry 34 of the mobile station.

The apparatus 26 formed at the base transceiver station is here shown toinclude an estimator 38 and a delay period message generator 42 coupledthereto. The estimator is coupled to receive communication indicia,herein indicated functionally by way of lines 48 representative ofcommunication characteristics in the communication system. The indiciais formed, for instance, of one or more of indicia types, such as, forexample, traffic loading in the communication system, HARQ informationof active users in the communication system, QoS requirements associatedwith the users, and radio quality information associated with the usersin the communication system. Additionally, communication indicia inputto the estimator further selectably include historical data associatedwith delay times in the communication system, such as historical valuesof estimates performed during operation of the estimator.

Responsive to values of the communication indicia provided thereto, theestimator operates to form values of delay periods that a subsequentrequest for retransmission of a data packet at the RLP layer should bedelayed. The delay period, in one implementation, forms a single,suggested RLP delay. And, in another implementation, the delay period isformed of a range of possible values, bounded by minimum and maximumdelay times and including a suggested RLP delay time within the delayperiod so-defined. The delay period message generator operates togenerate a message for communication to the mobile station to report onthe estimate made by the estimator. The message formed by the messagegenerator is provided to the transmit part of the transceiver circuitry32, thereafter to be broadcast by way of a forward link channel to themobile station. In the exemplary implementation, the delay periodmessage generated by the message generator forms an RLP Block of Bits(BLOB) that includes an RLP-delay (min, max, suggested) field.

When the message is received at the mobile station, the message isprovided, here by way of the line 48, to the apparatus 26. And, moreparticularly, the values of the RLP delay message are provided to adelay period message detector 52. The detector operates to detect, andextract values of, the delay period message therefrom and to provide thevalues to a DELAY_DETECTION_WINDOW (DDW) timer 54 to which the detectoris coupled. Upon subsequent detection at the RLP layer of inadequatedelivery thereto of a data packet, the timer is caused to time a timeperiod corresponding to the delay period detected by the detector priorto generation of a RLP-layer request for retransmission of the datapacket. Upon expiration of the time period timed by the DDW timer, ifthe data packet is not adequately delivered to the mobile station, theRLP-layer request for retransmission is generated. It should be notedthat the mobile station may use several techniques to determine if thebase station has given up or missed the delivery of the missing datapacket. For example, the mobile station may detect that, afterretransmitting an old packet several times unsuccessfully, the basestation kicks off sending a new packet with a new sequence number.Hence, the MS can assume the old packet is given up and missed. If themobile determines that the base station has given up or missed thedelivery of the missing RLP data packet, the mobile station may generatethe request for the retransmission prior to the expiration of DDW timer.

The physical layer utilizes an HARQ retransmission scheme. During thedelay timed by the timer 54, the HARQ retransmission procedures areselectably performed, to cause retransmission of the data packet at thephysical layer. The HARQ elements 54, formed at the transceivercircuitry are representative of such HARQ retransmission functions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a logical-layer representation of parts of thecommunication system 10 shown in FIG. 1. Here, the RLP layer 29 formingthe link layer is positioned above the physical layer 31. The RLP layerfunctions, amongst other things, to perform decoding, retransmission,and sequencing operations. And, the physical layer performs decoding,ACK/NAK, and other operations.

Upper layers of the communication system are represented at the block 62here including, for instance, PPP/IP/TCP(UDP) application layers, allconventionally utilized in packet communication systems. And, positionedbeneath the physical layer 31 is the CDMA 2000 1xEV-DV air interface 64.

Segments 66 and 68 are representative of passage of good packets fromthe physical layer to the link layer and retransmission requests formissing packets provided by the link layer to the physical layer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a message sequence diagram, shown generally at 72,representative of signaling generated during operation of the apparatus26 that forms a portion of the communication system 10, shown in FIG. 1.Here, the base transceiver station 12 and the mobile station 14 areseparated into logical-layer parts. That is to say, the base transceiverstation is here designated by 12-RLP and 12-PHY to designate the RLP andphysical layers, respectively. And, analogously, the mobile station 12is represented by the physical layer 14-PHY and the RLP layer 14-RLP,respectively.

First, and as indicated by the block 74, packet data serviceinitialization procedures pursuant to, here, formation of a 1xEV-DVcommunication session are performed. Then, and as indicated by the block76, an estimator positioned at the base transceiver station estimatesvalues of an RLP-delay responsive, for instance, to H-ARQ values, orother communication indicia. And, as indicated by the segment 78, thedelay period message, here forming an RLP BLOB containing an RLP-delay(min, max, suggested) values is sent to the mobile station. The contentsof the message are provided to the RLP layer 14-RLP of the mobilestation. And, subsequently, as indicated by the segments 82, 1xEV-DVpacket data, utilizing an HARQ retransmission scheme, is broadcast fromthe base transceiver station to the mobile station, here delivered tothe RLP-layer 14-RLP thereof.

To show operation of an embodiment of the present invention, adetermination is made at the block 86, that an RLP frame has not beensuccessfully delivered to the RLP layer of the mobile station. Ratherthan immediately generating a retransmission request from the RLP layer,the DDW timer 54 (shown in FIG. 1) is instead started. The timer timesfor the delay time period indicated in the RLP BLOB earlier transmittedto the mobile station and, here, extends for a time period correspondingto the length of the arrow 88.

During the period that the RLP-layer timer is timing the delay period,physical layer HARQ retransmissions can be effectuated. And, here,indicated by the segment 92, a retransmission of an undelivered frame iseffectuated. Upon expiration of the timer, if the data packet is notadequately delivered to the RLP layer, the RLP retransmission request isgenerated. Here, the retransmission request is indicated by the segment96 that is communicated from the RLP layer 14-RLP of the mobile stationto the RLP layer 12-RLP of the base transceiver station. Subsequently,the data packet is retransmitted, indicated by the segment 98.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method, shown generally at 104, of the method ofoperation of an embodiment of the present invention. The methodfacilitates efficient usage of radio capacity in a radio communicationsystem that utilizes retransmission schemes at two, or more, logicallayers by which the elements of the communication system are defined.

First, and as indicated by the block 106, indicia associated withcommunication characteristics in the communication system are detected.Then, and as indicated by the block 108, a selected second-layer delayperiod by which to delay generation, at a second communication station,of a second-layer resend request requesting resending of thepacket-formatted data is estimated. The estimate is formed responsive tothe indicia detected during the operation of detecting set forth at theblock 106.

Thereafter, and as indicated by the block 112, a delay period message isgenerated. The delay period message contains a value of the selectedsecond-layer delay period. And, as indicated by the block 114, the delayperiod message is delivered to the second communication station. And,thereafter, indicated by the block 116, a time period is timed. Timeperiod is indicated by the value contained in the delay period messagewhen the packet formatted data fails to be adequately delivered to thesecond logical layer of the second communication station.

Because of the use of delay period to delay the generation of the secondlogical layer retransmission request, the possibility that redundantrequests, generated at both the physical layer and at the higherlogical-layer is reduced.

The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing theinvention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily belimited by this description. The scope of the present invention isdefined by the following claims:

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and astorage device comprising algorithms, the processing circuitryconfigured to execute the algorithms, which causes the apparatus to:enable transmission of packet formatted data formatted at a firstlogical layer comprising a lower layer, utilizing a first-layeracknowledgement mechanism and enable transmission of the packetformatted data at a second logical layer comprising an upper layer thatis higher than the lower layer, utilizing a second-layer acknowledgmentmechanism; and generate an estimate of a selected second logical layerdelay period, in response to received indicia, by which to delaygeneration of a second logical layer resend request requesting resendingof the packet formatted data in an instance in which a determinationreveals that the packet formatted data is unsuccessfully delivered to asecond logical layer of a terminal, wherein the estimate of the selectedsecond logical layer delay period is a fixed delay period based in parton the received indicia that is associated with communicationcharacteristics corresponding to radio quality information of acommunication system, the estimate of second logical layer delay periodis generated prior to sending of the second logical layer resendrequest.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the estimate comprises oneor more values which correspond to one or more delay periods by which todelay generation of the second-layer resend request.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more delay periods comprise a minimum delaytime, a maximum delay time and a suggested delay time.
 4. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the one or more values are used to time a timeperiod corresponding to the delay period.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein the processing circuitry for execution of stored algorithms isfurther configured to cause the apparatus to: receive the second-layerresend request upon expiration of the time period.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the processing circuitry for execution of storedalgorithms is further configured to cause the apparatus to: retransmitthe packet formatted data to the second logical layer of the terminal.7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry forexecution of stored algorithms is further configured to cause theapparatus to: receive a first-layer resend request requesting resendingof the packet-formatted data during the time period.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the processing circuitry for execution of storedalgorithms is further configured to cause the apparatus to: retransmitthe packet formatted data to the first logical layer of the terminal. 9.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logical layer comprises aradio link protocol (RLP) layer and the first logical layer comprises aphysical layer.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first-layeracknowledgment mechanism comprises a hybrid automatic request (H-ARQ)retransmission and the second-layer acknowledgement comprises a radiolink protocol (RLP) retransmission.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second logical layer comprises a layer that is higher thanthe first logical layer.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecharacteristics comprise information relating to the first logicallayer.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristicscomprise data relating to hybrid automatic request (H-ARQ) information.14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio quality informationcomprises at least one of traffic load information associated withcommunications in the communication system, hybrid automatic requestinformation associated with the communications in the communicationsystem or quality of service requirements of the communications in thecommunications system.
 15. A method comprising: enabling transmission ofpacket formatted data formatted at a first logical layer comprising alower layer, utilizing a first-layer acknowledgement mechanism andenabling transmission of the packet formatted data at a second logicallayer comprising an upper layer that is higher than the lower layer,utilizing a second-layer acknowledgment mechanism; and generating, viaprocessing circuitry, an estimate of a selected second logical layerdelay period, in response to received indicia, by which to delaygeneration of a second logical layer resend request requesting resendingof the packet formatted data in an instance in which a determinationreveals that the packet formatted data is unsuccessfully delivered to asecond logical layer of a terminal, wherein the estimate of the selectedsecond logical layer delay period is a fixed delay period based in parton the received indicia that is associated with communicationcharacteristics corresponding to radio quality information of acommunication system the estimate of the selected second logical layerdelay period is generated prior to sending of the second logical layerresend request.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein theestimate comprises one or more values which correspond to one or moredelay periods by which to delay generation of the second-layer resendrequest.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more delayperiods comprise a minimum delay time, a maximum delay time and asuggested delay time.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one ormore values are used to time a time period corresponding to the delayperiod.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, receiving thesecond-layer resend request upon expiration of the time period.
 20. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising, receiving a first-layer resendrequest requesting resending of the packet-formatted data during thetime period.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristicscomprise information relating to the first logical layer.
 22. The methodof claim 15, wherein the radio quality information comprises at leastone of traffic load information associated with communications in thecommunication system, hybrid automatic request information associatedwith the communications in the communication system or quality ofservice requirements of the communications in the communications system.23. An apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and a storage devicecomprising algorithms, the processing circuitry configured to executethe algorithms, which causes the apparatus to: receive packet formatteddata, the packet formatted data formatted at a first logical layercomprising a lower layer, utilizing a first-layer acknowledgmentmechanism; selectably acknowledge whether the packet formatted data isaccurately received thereat at the first logical layer and, the packetformatted data formatted at a second logical layer comprising an upperlayer that is higher than the lower layer, utilizing a second-layeracknowledgement mechanism; selectably acknowledge whether the packetformatted data is accurately received thereat at the second logicallayer; and receive an estimate of a selected second logical layer delayperiod by which to delay generation of a second logical layer resendrequest requesting resending of the packet-formatted data, the estimateof the selected second logical layer delay period is a fixed delayperiod based in part on received indicia associated with communicationcharacteristics corresponding to radio quality information of acommunication system, the second logical layer delay period is generatedprior to sending of the second logical layer resend request.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein the radio quality information comprisesat least one of traffic load information associated with communicationsin the communication system, hybrid automatic request informationassociated with the communications in the communication system orquality of service requirements of the communications in thecommunications system.
 25. An apparatus comprising: processingcircuitry; and a storage device comprising algorithms, the processingcircuitry configured to execute the algorithms, which causes theapparatus to: receive packet formatted data, the packet formatted dataformatted at a first logical layer comprising a lower layer, utilizing afirst-layer acknowledgement mechanism; selectably acknowledge whetherthe packet formatted data is accurately received thereat at the firstlogical layer and, the packet formatted data formatted at a secondlogical layer comprising an upper layer that is higher than the lowerlayer, utilizing a second-layer acknowledgement mechanism; selectablyacknowledge whether the packet formatted data is accurately receivedthereat at the second logical layer; receive and detect a delay periodmessage, the delay period message having an indicia associated with aselected second logical layer delay period; receive indications of theindicia associated with the selected second logical layer delay periodcontained in the delay period message; and time a time period indicatedby the received indicia in an instance in which the packet formatteddata appears to be inaccurately delivered to the second logical layer ofthe apparatus, and wherein the time period is based in part on thereceived indicia that is associated with communication characteristicscorresponding to radio quality information of a communications system,the second logical layer delay period is a fixed delay period and isgenerated prior to sending of a second logical layer resend requestrequesting resending of the packet formatted data.
 26. The apparatus ofclaim 25, wherein the radio quality information comprises at least oneof traffic load information associated with communications in thecommunication system, hybrid automatic request information associatedwith the communications in the communication system or quality ofservice requirements of the communications in the communications system.